The adverse effects associated with the use of antimicrobial agents include:
-
Hypersensitivity or allergic reactions: In form of fever, skin rash, arthralgia, cholestatic jaundice or hemolysis. More serious reactions are agranulocytosis, bone marrow aplasia or anaphylactic reaction. (Most importantly in penicillin which requires confirmation)
-
Resistance
-
Superinfection = (Opportunistic infection): Reactions related to alterations in normal body flora “penuomycystis etc…”
-
Vitamin B complex deficiency may follow the use of antimicrobials e.g broad-spectrum antibiotics. It is due to inhibition of bacterial flora that forms these vitamins.
-
Direct toxic reactions (organ toxicity), resulting from high doses or drug interactions, on hemopoietic system, liver, kidney, GIT, nervous system or CVS.
Normal Bacterial Flora